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As summer comes to a close, millions of 5-year olds across the country start gearing up for one of the biggest days of their lives... the first day of kindergarten. Not only is this a big day for the child, it's a big day for the parents as well. You might have questions like, "Will he like his teacher? Will she make friends?" and most importantly, "Is my baby ready?" While most parents have questions like these, for some, readiness for kindergarten should be a serious consideration. As a kindergarten teacher, I see a handful a children every year come into my classroom who just aren't ready and would have benefited from waiting an extra year. Before sending your little one off to school, here are some things you should think about:

1) Has your child been enrolled in preschool? If so, she has a good foundation for "big school" and knows the ropes. She has learned to get along with other children in a classroom setting and has experienced the structure of a school day.

2) Has your child spent a significant time away from you on a regular basis? Even if he hasn't attended preschool, have there been other opportunities for him to spend time under the care of other adults? Is he comfortable being away from you for hours at a time?

3) Does your child still take a nap? Kindergarten isn't like it was when we were kids. With the No Child Left Behind act and the push for more academics in the early grades, most kindergartens are now full-day and many do not have nap time. If your child still takes a daily nap, this is the time to start weaning him off of it if he's to attend kindergarten in the fall. I have had students in my own class who fall asleep every day after lunch. These poor little ones are so exhausted they miss important learning opportunities.

4) Does your child follow directions well? If she still has trouble sitting when necessary, listening without interrupting, and following simple two-step directions, another year in preschool to practice these skills might be a good idea.

5) How are your child's fine motor skills? Is he able to hold a pencil, cut with scissors, and trace simple shapes and lines?

6) Can your child take care of her own personal needs? It's important that kindergarteners are able to zip and button their own pants and take care of themselves in the bathroom. In most school districts, teachers are not allowed to help with this and children need to be independent bathroom users.

7) Does your child show an interest in books and does he like to be read to? An interest in books and stories is important because much of the kindergarten curriculum revolves around read-aloud stories that reinforce important concepts. It's also essential that your child have an interest in learning about letters, words, and reading. It's much harder to learn about something when you don't have an interest in it.

8)Does your child get along well with other children, can she share and work cooperatively? If these basic social skills haven't developed yet, kindergarten might be a difficult transition.

Although you can't keep your child home forever (unless you're a homeschooler, of course!), take some time to consider whether he or she is ready for full-time school. I would always rather see a child spend an extra year in preschool developing the basic skills for kindergarten success than to have them come to my class completely unprepared and destined to repeat. Kindergarten is a big transition and most children are ready when the time comes but a few just aren't and that's ok. The most important thing is to look at your child as an individual, don't compare him to other 4- or 5-year olds, and trust your intuition. You know what's best!

Learn more about this author, J Tyler.
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